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Background: The demanding academic and professional environment faced by medical students renders them susceptible to mental health challenges. Tailored academic advising (AA) services are crucial in catering to the distinct requirements of medical students. This study evaluates the quality of AA from the perspective of medical students and proposes improvements in the AA approach. Method: The study comprised 250 pre-clinical year students from Mashhad Medical School. A valid AA quality evaluation questionnaire was used to measure students' perception and attitude towards AA, to evaluate the performance of students and advisors, and factors affecting its quality. Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: Although a majority of medical students exhibited a favorable disposition towards AA, 37% acknowledged never utilizing the AA, with only 10.4% engaging in regular consultations. The satisfaction rate with AA stood at 47%. Obstacles concerning advisor performance were identified as more prevalent reasons for student discontent, including deficiencies in advisory skills, unfamiliarity with educational protocols, low time, and low motivation. Alongside academic concerns, 36% of students sought advice for psychological issues. Logistic regression analysis showed that counselors' performance, students' knowledge, and students' positive attitudes increased the rate of students using AA. Conclusion: Enhancing AA services necessitates augmenting students' awareness regarding the available support mechanisms and upgrading the skills and commitment levels of advisors. While faculty advisors play a pivotal role in career progression, the efficiency of AA services could be heightened by incorporating an assistant psychologist alongside specialized training for faculty advisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women all around the world. In Iran, the mean age of the patients is approximately 10 years younger than that in other countries. We conducted the present study to assess the risk factors of breast cancer among Iranian women in Mashhad. Method: This case-control study was carried out between February 2016 and January 2018 on 460 women (230 cases and 230 controls) in the academic hospitals of Mashhad. The data from our cases and controls were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 18.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). We employed logistic regression models and frequency tables to estimate odds ratio (OR) and to examine the predictive effect of each factor on breast cancer risk. P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: According to multivariate analysis, there was significant associations between breast cancer risk and body mass index (BMI) (Odds ratio (OR), 1.1; 95% Confidence interval (CI), 1.0-1.2), age at menarche (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47-0.68), menopausal age (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.0-1.1), family history of non-breast malignancies (OR, 7.9; 95% CI, 2.2-21.1), and oral contraception pills (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 8.34- 1.16). Conclusion: This study revealed that age at menarche, family history of non- breast cancer malignancies, BMI, menopausal age, and oral contraception pills were significantly associated with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Botulism occurs periodically or in outbreaks in Iran. Botulism is lethal and accordingly a considerable issue in environmental health, although it is uncommon. This study was performed to evaluate the potential predictive factors in foodborne botulism in a 10-year span. Materials and methods: All medical records from patients with foodborne botulism admitted to Imam Reza Hospital in 10 years (2005-2015) were analyzed retrospectively. Results: 61 cases were included (38 men, mean age ± SD 28.93 ± 19.14 years). All cases were treated with antitoxin. 6.6% of cases died. Canned beans were correlated with the admission to intensive care unit (ICU), and also, it increased the length of ICU stay significantly (P = 0.007 and 0.023, respectively). The incidence of dizziness and diplopia significantly induced excess demands for higher doses of antitoxin (P = 0.038 and 0.023, respectively). Risk of dysphagia was remarkably higher in cases with ptosis (P = 0.039, odds ratio: 3). While in this study, time elapsed between the onset of clinical manifestations and antitoxin administration was correlated with the occurrence of dysphagia, constipation, and blurred vision, and early treatment did not improve the outcomes. Multiple analysis of potential variables by a logistic regression model disclosed that the independent significant factors affecting mortality were the need for mechanical ventilation (P = 0.000), dyspnea (P = 0.044), general weakness (P = 0.044), and lack of consciousness (P = 0.008) at the time of admission. Conclusions: Taking clinical signs and symptoms into account upon patient arrival is important and, of course, is a key to further management in the emergency setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Household food insecurity is defined as the limited or uncertain access to adequate and safe food or limited ability to obtain food in a socially acceptable manner. Preeclampsia is a severe case of high-risk pregnancy, which endangers the health of women across the world, especially in developing countries. The current study aimed to use the nutritional deficiencies theory in pathogenesis of preeclampsia and determine the correlation between food insecurity and preeclampsia. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 100 women with preeclampsia and 200 normal pregnant women with the gestational age of 20 weeks. Participants were selected via purposive sampling according to the eligibility criteria. Data were collected using the USDA questionnaire for food insecurity, socioeconomic data, and demographic data through interviews. Results: The findings indicated that the frequency of food insecurity was significantly higher in the preeclampsia women than the healthy women (71% vs. 21%; P < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that the risk of preeclampsia was six times higher among pregnant women in the unsafe food status group than those in safe food status group [odds = 6.4; 95%CI: 3.3-12.4; P < 0.001]. Among the studied variables, socioeconomic status, history of stillbirth, history of preterm delivery, and ethnicity were significantly associated with preeclampsia during pregnancy (P < 0.05). In addition, women with low socioeconomic status were twice at the higher risk of preeclampsia compared to those with favorable socioeconomic status [odds = 2.7; 95%CI: 1.1-6.2; P = 0.01]. Conclusion: The current study indicated that the prevalence of food insecurity was high in Iranian women with preeclampsia, especially those with a history of preterm labor, history of stillbirth, low socioeconomic status, or non-Persian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The FAS and FAS-Ligand (FASL) system is an important apoptosis pathway in the liver. The FAS-mediated pathway functions by binding the FASL on the activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes and Natural Killer (NK) cells to the FAS receptor on infected hepatocytes. FAS and FASL polymorphisms, which are related to apoptosis, might influence the outcome of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Objectives: Thus, the present study aimed to determine if FAS and FASL promoter polymorphisms are associated with the clinical outcome of HBV infection. Patients and Methods: DNA samples were obtained from the infected individuals including chronic carrier (n = 50), chronic hepatitis (n = 50), cirrhosis (n = 25), naturally recovered (n = 26) and compared with those of their matched healthy controls (n = 100). Genotyping for polymorphisms of FAS-670 A/G and -1377 G/A, and FASL -844 C/T was performed using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays. Results: Multiple analyses for genetic association of FAS and FASL polymorphisms were not statistically different between HBV patients (n = 125) and healthy controls (n = 100). However, genotype and allele frequencies of FASL-844 C/T were significantly different between recovered individuals and patients with cirrhosis (P = 0.02 and P=0.01, respectively). Whereas, FAS-670A/G and -1377G/A polymorphisms were similarly distributed in these two groups (P = 0.8 and P = 0.47, respectively). Conclusions: The current study results showed that bearing -844T allele in FASL promoter region has a protective effect on cirrhosis and is involved in recovery from infection. In conclusion, it is proposed that HBV infection outcome might be influenced by FASL-844C/T polymorphism through alteration in apoptosis of hepatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]